Looks yum huh?! Just so you know that shrimp salad sandwich is mayo and dairy free. Here's our recipe.The spaghetti is gluten-free from Trader Joe's. The chocolate chip cookies are also animal-free and that's rice milk in the glass.
Let us introduce you to how we see healthy eating!
As you know, philosophically we practice "eating wellness" here which is basically as Hippocrates said, "let food be they medicine, and medicine be they food." We believe in the Farmacy before the need for the Pharmacy. Farm over Pharma
Putting eating wellness into practice we've adapted an 80/20 plant-based eating style inspired from the 80/20 Rule also known as the Pareto Principle which asserts that about 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. For example, in economics a rule of thumb in business is that 80% of a company’s sales come from 20% of their customers. The Pareto principle is about distribution.
80/20 plant-based eating helped me with food distribution to help me get back in and healthily stay in my skinny jeans - 40lbs gone and off for years now! And unlike most diets, there are no cheat days or foods.
No cheating or dieting here. We just eat!
Plant-based eating allows for some animal products and is socially less polarizing than using the word semi-vegan or semi-vegetarian. Foods or dishes where 80% or more of the ingredients are made from plants is plant-based. 80/20 allows room for the junk, decadent, and processed foods. We are realistic. Healthier eating does not mean perfect eating. It means (to us) balance and flexibility - incorporating health and fun!
And not only did this 80/20 style work for weight management, it also helps the planet by significantly reducing the amount of animal products we eat. It's a reasonable and flexible compromise for those who still want to enjoy meat or animal products on occasion yet want to be more conscious or eventually wean off animal products all together one day.
We apply the 80/20 plant-based eating principle like this:
- 80% Plants or foods made with plants
- 20% Meat, seafood, dairy, eggs
- 80% Real whole foods that support the vibrant body we want
- 20% Whatever we want to eat. Decadent and junk foods are welcome
- 80% Home-cooked or from restaurants that cook with whole foods. Farm-to-table concepts are our favorite.
- 20% Processed or mass-produced (like fast, frozen, boxed or canned foods.)
- 80% Avoid gluten and soy
- 20% Eat gluten and soy (We call this going gluten-little and soy-little)
100% avoidance of High Fructose Corn Syrup, Artificial Sweeteners, Sugar Alcohols, Artificial Food Coloring & Food Dyes, MSG, and Preservatives.
Buy as much organic and non-GMO foods as possible. Buy as much meats that were humanely raised, grass-fed, and free of hormones and antibiotics. Apply the same 80/20 principle with meat: 80% white meats and seafood, and 20% red meats and pork. Avoid farm-raised fish and eat Wild. 100% support of local farmer's markets!
In fact, we're kinda addicted to farmer's markets. You will know where to find us every weekend.
For sugars, the American Heart Association recommends that women consume around 25grams of added sugar per day, and for men 37grams. We try and stick to that guideline +/- 10% on our 80% days. On 20% days, again, anything goes. Cutting down on the sugars was and still is one of my personal eating challenges because oh how I love donuts, cookies, and sugary drinks.
The foods and dishes featured on Noshtopia will follow along the 80/20 plant-based eating style. We hope you enjoy!
